Ano ang Nasa Dako Paroon?

Last Sunday, our airsoft team hiked up the ridges of Antipolo for an invitational game on this abandoned building, formerly known as the Antipolo Hotel. The route we took along Sumulong Highway is pretty familiar until we turned towards this remote area along the perimeters of Hinulugang Taktak (or so I think). That was where I went on saying "Meron palang gentong lugar sa Antipolo." Haha... it was really really freaky!

Screaming BB's
L-R: Nancy, Omeng, Jubay, Inggo, Jeng, Obi, Gudz, Hans, Garr, Rik

Attendance: Nancy, Rommel, Inggo, Jeng, Hans, Obi, Jun, Gudo, Ricky, Lloyd, Garrick, Sir Gem + 2

If you've watched the TV series "Scariest Places on Earth", this location would be a good addition on their list. Firstly, it was erected on a slope surrounded by low-lying vegetation and the road going inside the compound was obviously neglected for a long time - rugged and uneven. Then, looking at it alone from the outside, the 80-ish meter stretch of dilapidated building looks like the perfect hideout for goons and kidnappers - gloomy in most spots, lots of rooms with tattered walls and groundworks, and the passages were as convoluted as hell (haven't been to hell though, take note). Lastly, the place itself has a startling history... its basement used to be a morgue!!! *insert Pinoy Thriller overture here*

*insert Pinoy Thriller overture here*

First thing me and Garrik did when we arrived was to scout around the building, and it was no mere small time hotel. The place is huge!

According to stories I overheard, the place was a resort slash hotel. It's still evident until now that it could have been a top-class location back then because there were wall sculptures and paintings, landscaped entryways, and a nifty sense of architecture. After an earthquake (they din't say from when the earthquake occured) that probably damaged the place (?), the building was restored to be a home for the aged while its lower floor was converted to a morgue *insert Pinoy Thriller overture here*!!! The tale went on that the place ultimately was decommissioned after a girl accidentally fell from the topmost floor (the building has four stories).

2nd Floor Hallway

Hindi ko alam kung kwentong barbero lang ito or an actual event but regardless of it, the sense of foreboding when you're on the place can't be denied, man. It's just that we're naturally stubborn and airsoft adiks that we still went on gaming on that site. As mentioned before, "null" naman ako kaya medyo kalpante ako na hindi ako makakaramdam ng kahit anong kababalaghan. It was unlike what the others felt when they first played on the building a week ago: may sumisitsit kay Gudo, mya nakikitang kung ano mang itim sila Jun at Ricky, and other funky stuffs that were discussed in-between games. Ako, takot lang talaga kahit wala naman akong naramdamang kahit ano. Kaya nga nitong Linggo, hindi na ginamit sa laro yung basement. Games were restricted to the upper floors and by late afternoon, along the grounds of the compound.

"Nardong Putek versus Boy Bawang "
Nardo: Maliit ang Tondo para sa ating dalwa, Boy!
Boy: Hindi, kung buburahin kita sa mundong ibabaw, Nardo!
Nardo at Boy (duet): Haaaaayaaaaah!!!!

The games were still fun. There were lots of negligible injuries from BB bullets taken at close range but there was one instance that a player from the other team had a bloody open wound on the finger. But it was none too serious, sabi nga: "part of the game".

By the way, it was not ALL scary when you're on the premise. Turn your back from the creepy building and you'll be facing West on what most people before call it the "Overlooking", the same sight you'll be gawking at when you're on Cloud 9 or Padi's Point - Antipolo. Ganda, pramis. Pag may kasama ka ngang ka-love team wala kang pagkatalo: sa sobrang scary ng building pwede kayo magyakapan sa takot tas pag humarap naman kayo sa "Overlooking", ang romantic naman ng setting.

"Tara sa Overlooking!"

E ang kaso mo, yung gusto kong kasama wala.

Yun yun eh! Haha.

*****

More pics in my Multiply site.

Ano ang Nasa Dako Paroon?

Last Sunday, our airsoft team hiked up the ridges of Antipolo for an invitational game on this abandoned building, formerly known as the Antipolo Hotel. The route we took along Sumulong Highway is pretty familiar until we turned towards this remote area along the perimeters of Hinulugang Taktak (or so I think). That was where I went on saying "Meron palang gentong lugar sa Antipolo." Haha... it was really really freaky!

Screaming BB's
L-R: Nancy, Omeng, Jubay, Inggo, Jeng, Obi, Gudz, Hans, Garr, Rik

Attendance: Nancy, Rommel, Inggo, Jeng, Hans, Obi, Jun, Gudo, Ricky, Lloyd, Garrick, Sir Gem + 2

If you've watched the TV series "Scariest Places on Earth", this location would be a good addition on their list. Firstly, it was erected on a slope surrounded by low-lying vegetation and the road going inside the compound was obviously neglected for a long time - rugged and uneven. Then, looking at it alone from the outside, the 80-ish meter stretch of dilapidated building looks like the perfect hideout for goons and kidnappers - gloomy in most spots, lots of rooms with tattered walls and groundworks, and the passages were as convoluted as hell (haven't been to hell though, take note). Lastly, the place itself has a startling history... its basement used to be a morgue!!! *insert Pinoy Thriller overture here*

*insert Pinoy Thriller overture here*

First thing me and Garrik did when we arrived was to scout around the building, and it was no mere small time hotel. The place is huge!

According to stories I overheard, the place was a resort slash hotel. It's still evident until now that it could have been a top-class location back then because there were wall sculptures and paintings, landscaped entryways, and a nifty sense of architecture. After an earthquake (they din't say from when the earthquake occured) that probably damaged the place (?), the building was restored to be a home for the aged while its lower floor was converted to a morgue *insert Pinoy Thriller overture here*!!! The tale went on that the place ultimately was decommissioned after a girl accidentally fell from the topmost floor (the building has four stories).

2nd Floor Hallway

Hindi ko alam kung kwentong barbero lang ito or an actual event but regardless of it, the sense of foreboding when you're on the place can't be denied, man. It's just that we're naturally stubborn and airsoft adiks that we still went on gaming on that site. As mentioned before, "null" naman ako kaya medyo kalpante ako na hindi ako makakaramdam ng kahit anong kababalaghan. It was unlike what the others felt when they first played on the building a week ago: may sumisitsit kay Gudo, mya nakikitang kung ano mang itim sila Jun at Ricky, and other funky stuffs that were discussed in-between games. Ako, takot lang talaga kahit wala naman akong naramdamang kahit ano. Kaya nga nitong Linggo, hindi na ginamit sa laro yung basement. Games were restricted to the upper floors and by late afternoon, along the grounds of the compound.

"Nardong Putek versus Boy Bawang "
Nardo: Maliit ang Tondo para sa ating dalwa, Boy!
Boy: Hindi, kung buburahin kita sa mundong ibabaw, Nardo!
Nardo at Boy (duet): Haaaaayaaaaah!!!!

The games were still fun. There were lots of negligible injuries from BB bullets taken at close range but there was one instance that a player from the other team had a bloody open wound on the finger. But it was none too serious, sabi nga: "part of the game".

By the way, it was not ALL scary when you're on the premise. Turn your back from the creepy building and you'll be facing West on what most people before call it the "Overlooking", the same sight you'll be gawking at when you're on Cloud 9 or Padi's Point - Antipolo. Ganda, pramis. Pag may kasama ka ngang ka-love team wala kang pagkatalo: sa sobrang scary ng building pwede kayo magyakapan sa takot tas pag humarap naman kayo sa "Overlooking", ang romantic naman ng setting.

"Tara sa Overlooking!"

E ang kaso mo, yung gusto kong kasama wala.

Yun yun eh! Haha.

*****

More pics in my Multiply site.